NDC Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has said political party vigilantism and violence during elections, must be eschewed, saying they threaten national security and the development.
He said Ghana’s democracy is growing, hence the need to do away violence.
[contextly_sidebar id=”AQSobuuH6qOJuMBN9Dsxre60u6uKqPIh”]”Ghana’s democracy has come of age, and it is time we prove that to the rest of the world”.
Speaking to Citi News at the maiden edition of the Young Parliamentarian Forum held at Gomoa Budumburam in the Central Region, the Kumbungu legislator called on political parties to come together to fight the menace, saying violence would only deter investors from doing business in the country.
The outspoken MP called on civil society to join the fight against political vigilantism adding that, Ghana is the beacon of democracy in Africa, and must work to maintain that status since other African countries look up to Ghana as the pacesetter.
“Violence would only destroy this country. Other African countries look up to Ghana and follow our example”, Ras Mubarak noted.
59% of Ghanaians want party vigilantes prosecuted for crimes – Afrobarometer
In 2018, an Afrobarometer report revealed that about 59% of Ghanaians “strongly approve” of “prosecuting and punishing members of political party vigilantes for criminal acts, irrespective of their political affiliation.”
The report indicated that 88% of Ghanaians believe that it is wrong for these party vigilantes to attack government appointees whose appointments they disagree with.
‘Vigilante groups will explode in 2020 if we don’t stop them’ – Kofi Boakye
The Director General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS), COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, has warned of an escalation of violence in the 2020 electioneering period should the country fail to curtail the operations of political vigilante groups.
Political thuggery is a growing concern with political parties actively sanctioning various vigilante groups and their operations.
From the capture of state institutions and facilities to the physical abuse of public appointees and innocent citizens, political vigilante groups are gradually getting entrenched in the country’s body politic.
But, the tough-talking police officer said Ghana is headed towards the explosion.
“If political thuggery is not stopped now, from 2020 there will be an explosion …As at yesterday, there was the formation of Eastern Mambas, and because of the entrepreneurship related to vigilantism, by 2020 you will hear about Ivor Flakes, Kwesi Anning Tigers because now people are going to form groups for hire.”
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By: Calvis Tetteh | citinewsroom.com |Ghana